From Italy and the World

Eastern Ukraine CNN  —  Driving deep into the forest, the hush between the towering pine trees and the clear blue skies was splintered every few seconds by the sound of distant explosions from the frontline battles for eastern Ukraine. Guiding us through the woodland on foot, Ukrainian soldiers eventually brought…

Senior officials at Russia’s Ministry of Defense gave the order for Russian fighter jets to harass a US drone over the Black Sea this week, according to two US officials familiar with the intelligence. The high-level military officials’ connection to the incident suggests the fighter jet pilots were not taking…

CNN  —  On Tuesday, a Russian Su-27 fighter forced down a US MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea. Top US officials quickly put the finger of blame on Russia: Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said “unsafe and unprofessional” flying…

London CNN  —  The Russian downing of a US drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday has prompted a diplomatic spat and a race to recover some highly classified technology. The White House slammed Moscow’s actions as “unsafe, unprofessional and reckless” while Russia’s defense ministry denied its aircraft came into…

CNN  —  Spain’s Crown Princess Leonor, the heir presumptive to the throne, will start three years of military training later this year in preparation for her future role as head of state, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday. “In the Cabinet Meeting today, we…

London CNN  —  Human rights groups have condemned the conviction of a Polish activist for supplying a pregnant woman with abortion pills in a landmark trial under the country’s ultra-strict abortion laws. A Warsaw court on Tuesday found activist Justyna Wydrzyńska guilty of assisting an abortion by supplying the drugs…

In this February 21 photo, a US Air Force 119th Wing MQ-9 Reaper flys over an airfield at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (Senior Airman Christa Anderson/US Air National Guard/File) A Russian fighter jet forced down a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday after damaging the…

Paris CNN  —  Three dogs have died from a suspected poisoning at a canine racing event in southern France, according to the local prosecutor. Police were called to the French Canicross championships in the Gard region on Sunday morning, where they found three dead dogs and another that was seriously…

The artillery fire gets worse at night, so Liuba and her husband hold hands. It keeps them safe, she says with a sad nod of her head. She’s standing in what’s left of her garden after it was hit during a particularly bad night a month ago. The shelling destroyed…

Kupiansk, Ukraine CNN  —  The artillery fire gets worse at night, so Liuba and her husband hold hands. It keeps them safe, she says with a sad nod of her head. She’s standing in what’s left of her garden after it was hit during a particularly bad night a month…

CNN  —  The International Criminal Court (ICC) is planning to open two war crimes cases tied to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and issue arrest warrants against “several people,” according to the New York Times (NYT) and Reuters, citing current and former officials with knowledge of the decision who were…

CNN  —  The United Kingdom will ramp up defense spending by $6 billion to “fortify” against growing threats from Russia and China, the country’s leader announced on the eve of highly anticipated talks with AUKUS partners, the United States and Australia. In a statement released Sunday, British Prime Minister Rishi…

London CNN  —  David Carrick, a serial sex offender, served in one of Britain’s most elite armed police units for years. He is now behind bars, but his ability to evade justice has only fueled a growing distrust and anger toward police in the United Kingdom. CNN has investigated how…

There have been no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut, according to think tank the Institute for the Study of War. The report published late Saturday said that despite Russian forces and units from the paramilitary Wagner Group launching continued ground attacks in the city, there is no evidence that they made…

Power across the Kharkiv region has been fully restored, a spokesperson for the regional military administration told CNN. The metro in Kharkiv city has reopened but the trams remain at a standstill, the spokesperson – who asked not to be named for security reasons – added.  Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv region military administration, said…